Choosing the Baby’s Father From the Following – Chapter 55

𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟓𝟓
“Cough, cough! I’ll be back, older brother.”

“You could just stay with me at the detached palace, why bother going on such a long journey?”

Lurik continued to express his regret, trying to hold me back until the very end, but he was clearly pleased with my final farewell.

“I’ll write to you, older brother. I’ll write often.”

Except for Lurik, none of the Imperial Family members, fearful of the epidemic, accepted my farewell.

As for me, I had no intention of ever returning to this Imperial Palace, so to them, it was a permanent goodbye.

‘It was awful meeting you and let’s never see each other again!’

I said my goodbyes while cheering inwardly and headed towards the Imperial Palace gate.

Ernst had already left for the Flavi Royal Palace a day earlier to prepare.

By my side were a dozen or so Imperial Guards and servants that Lurik had assigned to me, and Ren.

Of course, Ren had to return to the Imperial Palace to check on the Crown Prince’s prognosis after escorting me.

“You said we could only go as far as the Royal Palace through the gate, right?”

I asked Ren, and he nodded.

“I was worried that traveling too far using Flame Travel would be a burden on you.”

Because Ren’s mood had been low for so long after I recklessly approached Lurik last week, I answered him in a way to appease him.

“Yes, I’ll do as you decide, Ren.”

But Ren seemed to have quickly figured out my intentions.

“It’s too late to pretend to be obedient, Lou.”

What a sharp man.

I smiled innocently, pretending not to know, and linked my arm with his.

It was intended to lift his spirits, but the feeling of his firm arm actually made me feel more secure.

He wrapped his arm around my shoulder.

Together, we took a step towards the gate.

The strange feeling of the gate, like being sucked into an unknown hole, remained the same.

But I was no longer afraid because Ren was with me.

🔹🔹🔹🔹🔹🔹

“Erni.”

Ernst was dressed in a bright pink jacket, and perhaps enjoying the advantage of being on his home ground, his handsome face was shining even more brightly than usual.

His bright golden eyes were clear, and a sweet smile hung from the corners of his gentle eyes.

When our eyes met, a welcoming blush spread across his white cheeks.

‘It hasn’t even been a few days since I last saw him at the Imperial Palace.’

He knelt on one knee, lowered his posture, and kissed the back of my hand.

“It’s been a while since you’ve been to Flavi. Welcome, Your Highness.”

His touch on my hand was courteous, and his lips on the back of my hand were gentle.

So much so that I couldn’t help but smile.

However, I had already confirmed in Ernst’s letters that Louise had visited the Flavi Royal Palace several times and was acquainted with the royal family.

So, I needed to be a little careful in this palace.

‘I can’t act like it’s my first time here.’

I hid my nervousness beneath a smile and spoke.

“It was really hard to get out, wasn’t it?”

Ernst straightened up and tilted his head slightly.

“Lou, are you alright? Your voice sounds a little……”

His neat blonde hair swayed gently above his forehead.

I was momentarily distracted by it and missed the timing to answer.

Ren answered on my behalf.

“She strained her voice pretending to cough. Poor Lou.”

Then he asked Ernst.

“Can we move immediately?”

“We can, but it’s a bit disappointing. It’s a shame that I can’t even offer you dinner since you’ve come all this way.”

Just as Ren’s expression turned grim, Phoebe intervened appropriately.

“I apologize, Your Highness. But since I’m also sick with the epidemic and in urgent need of recuperation, having dinner at the Flavi Royal Palace wouldn’t look good to others.”

“Phoebe, what happens in Flavi doesn’t get out.”

Ernst replied with dissatisfaction, but then nodded.

“……Then let’s go right away.”

Phoebe asked again.

“It wouldn’t be disrespectful to skip greeting His Majesty, would it? We haven’t seen most of the royal family members either……”

Ernst hesitated for a moment, then replied.

“I’ll explain it to him later. He’ll understand.”

Then he said to Ren.

“It would be best to use the fireplace in the library at the end of this hallway.”

But as we were all leaving the gate and heading down the hallway,

Suddenly, a low voice came from the opposite hallway.

“Louise.”

……Did he just call my name?

I took a deep breath and turned around to see a middle-aged man standing there.

He was dressed in simple hunting attire, but I could recognize his identity just by looking at the beautiful golden hair swaying on his shoulders.

‘It’s King Mariano.’

It was thanks to the fact that the King of Flavi looked like my friend Ernst’s future self, 25 years older.

“I greet His Majesty, the King of Flavi.”

According to the letters, Louise had visited the Flavi Kingdom at least three times, so she might have built a considerable rapport with the King.

I greeted him as politely as possible, but the King sighed in a very disappointed tone.

“……Oh dear.”

Confused, I looked up to see him speak with a very regretful expression.

“It’s been a while since we’ve seen each other, and yet you treat your godfather so coldly.”

What? Godfather?

‘No, were they that close?’

The handsome middle-aged King with his dazzling golden eyes asked again.

“Were you planning to go straight to Edessa without seeing me if we hadn’t run into each other?”

“Cough! Cough, cough!”

As I coughed, Phoebe also started coughing.

“Cough, cough! Cough, cough!”

While Ren patted my back as if surprised, I subtly gave Ernst a look.

Only then did he make excuses on my behalf.

“Father, as I told you, Her Highness is very ill. She was planning to go to Edessa quickly for treatment due to concerns about the infection. She had no intention of upsetting you.”

King Mariano, however, still replied with displeasure.

“Crown Prince, don’t ignore this old man. Do you think your father would be afraid of a mere pneumonia and not see the face of his goddaughter who has come to visit after so long?”

So King Mariano was my godfather.

‘He never even gave Lurik a godfather like that!’

Goddaughter.

I was completely preoccupied with that title that no one else paid attention to, but I managed to reply pitifully.

“Cough, I apologize…… At the Imperial Palace, no one wanted to receive greetings from a sick person……”

Tsk, tsk, King Mariano clicked his tongue as if to be heard and grabbed my hand, which clearly looked like that of a seriously ill patient.

“Louise.”

So, the relationship between Mariano and Louise wasn’t just ‘considerable.’

‘Who decided they were this close?’

King Mariano continued to speak.

“The illness of the body can be cured. With a skilled physician and the Tower Master by your side, what is there to fear? Isn’t that right?”

“Cough……”

I coughed awkwardly and had to guess the right answer.

“Yes, Godfather…… I will recover quickly and, cough, return……”

King Mariano lightly kissed the back of my hand and stepped back.

“Escort her safely.”

He said, and Ernst replied.

“I may return a little late, Father.”

King Mariano clicked his tongue.

“Don’t worry, I never expected you to return early anyway.”

🔹🔹🔹🔹🔹🔹

“Come here, Lou.”

In front of the unlit fireplace, Ren gently took my hand and wrapped his arm around my waist.

I could clearly see Ernst frowning, but Ren pretended not to notice, acting nonchalant with a thick skin.

“You collapsed at the monastery too. It’s more tiring than the gate.”

He was right.

As soon as I leaned against him helplessly, black powder scattered from Ren’s grasp.

Crackle, crackle, the sound of flames igniting filled the air.

Soon, I felt the ground beneath me disappear.

🔹🔹🔹🔹🔹🔹

The hotel we arrived at was as splendid as the Flavi Royal Palace.

“Welcome to the Edessa Hotel.”

In front of the fireplace in the lobby with its high ceiling, Callisto stood stiffly, greeting us like the most rigid hotel manager.

“Cal……!”

I stepped forward in delight, and Ren’s aura turned menacing.

‘Ren has been practically attached to the Imperial Palace lately, and it’s been a month since I’ve seen Cal.’

However, Ren couldn’t stand even the brief moment I glanced at Callisto.

“Where’s the room Lou will be using? I need to inspect it first since I have to return to the Imperial Palace soon.”

Callisto, who was approaching me, stopped and frowned.

“I hired dozens of mages for two months to reinforce the security. It’s practically newly built, and you want to inspect it?”

He seemed genuinely displeased, but Ren didn’t even blink.

“How can I trust something those incompetent fools built?”

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